Evansville man sentenced to over 100 years for 2022 murder case

EVANSVILLE, Ind (WEHT) - An Evansville man was handed an over 100-year prison sentence in Vanderburgh Superior Court for a murder that happened in 2022.




Scott Terry, Jr. was sentenced to 105 years for the shooting of Candilyn Sexton and her unborn child on West Indiana Street.

According to police, the call came in shortly after 10 a.m. on March 30, 2022 for shots fired at a home. Police say Terry Jr. was located near the Kentucky border. He accepted a plea agreement back in May 2025.




Before sentencing, Johnathan Heil read a short victim impact statement, stating it wasn't about him but about "a loving mother that was taken away too early". He said he hoped Terry, Jr would remain locked up for the rest of his days.




Harmony Heil said that her mother was the most caring, selfless person she has known and that since the shooting, nothing has been the same. She said she has had nightmares since, and she had lost more than a parent, being taken away by a "selfish" person. She then referenced Terry Jr, directly.




"What you did was evil. You do not deserve mercy," she said.




Terry's mother provided more on her son's background, stating as he was growing up, he was the most caring and selfless person and gave back to the community in numerous ways including building houses with a pastor.




"He did anything for anyone, generous to a fault," she said.




She testified early on in Terry, Jr's and Sexton's relationship, things were good, but things turned as time passed, becoming more argumentative.




She also testified when she got a call from him saying that he shot Sexton, she didn't believe it at first and went to the house to try and save Sexton. She said he turned himself in.




People observing as well as the attorneys saw parts of a jail interview of Terry, Jr. and a detective explaining the events that led up to the shooting. The video showed Terry, Jr. crying on numerous occasions, but he was able to tell that him and Sexton were on bad terms for a while, was fighting and she wouldn't let him do his morning job. He claimed Sexton broke one of his computers and turned off the house's Wi-Fi, so he couldn't do his work.




He then said he went to a gun safe due to mounting frustrations but put it back. He further claimed Sexton came into the room, recording on her phone, which led to emotions coming out and the eventual shooting.




Terry, Jr. addressed the court, stating he thinks about what happened every day and taking anabolic steroids was a mistake. He claimed full responsibility, and despite everything that occurred, he misses her and did not intend any harm.




Terry, Jr. turned to address Sexton's supporters and family directly, and with tears coming down his face said, "I'm so sorry. I can't do anything but give my life to the system. I failed at every level. There's not enough I can say. I'm so sorry."




Judge Robert Pigman said there were mitigating and aggravating factors, but on the topic of remorse, he said on all of the years he has been on the bench, it is almost impossible to fully judge remorse.




Terry, Jr. along Defense Attorney Joseph Wyckoff said they will let the court know on if they decide to appeal the sentence.



via: https://fox59.com/news/evansville-man-sentenced-to-over-100-years-for-2022-murder-case/